Beading Back in Time

I have been wanting to challenge my design skills with using larger, chunkier, funkier

focal pieces, and that's just what this challenge allowed me to do!  I handmade all the ceramic

pieces used, but instead of glazing them, I used different colored washes.  With this technique, you add color, wipe it off, add more color, wipe it off, until you achieve the desired look.  In this case, I was going for fossilized looks in beiges and rust tones.

 

This design features 2 ceramic ammonites, amber, Czech glass round beads, a handmade 16g wire spiral accent and chain.  The asymmetrical look gives it attitude!

 I love the rusty, crusty finish on the fossilized shells in this necklace and earring set.  The ceramic pieces are highlighted by metallic size 6 seed beads, spacer discs, and dagger shaped gemstones.  I used 20g wire as the necklace base due to the weight of the clay pieces.  This is a choker style necklace.  I used 24g wire to wrap the earrings and added some of the metallic seed beads as accents.

 

Please visit my shop to see more of my ceramic beads at www.fireflydesignstudio.etsy.com and visit the blog of the other fantastic designers participating in this fun blog hop challenge!

 

Co-hostess:  Lindsay Starr of Phantasm Creations Co-hostess:  Sherri Stokey of Knot Just Macrame 
Kelly Rodgers of Beadin' Black & Blue  Michelle McCarthy of Firefly Design Studio  Caroline Dewison of Blueberribeads  Melissa Trudinger of Boho Bird Jewellery  Sue Kennedy of SueBeads  Stephanie and Chris Haussler of Pixibug Designs  Jen Cameron of Glass Addictions  Jean Wells of Jean A. Wells Artisan Jewelry